Expansion joint for turbine and condenser connections



J.. F. GRACE EXPANSION JOINT FOR TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONNECTIONS Aug.16, 1927.

Filed July 5, 1924 PatentedAug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. GRACE, OF KEARNY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTI-IINGTON PUMP ANDMACHINERY CORPORATION, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

EXPANSION JOINT FOR TURBINE AND CONDENSER CONNECTIONS.

Application filed my 5,

1% occur in the condenser upon excessive heating and expansion thereofdue to stoppage of the circulating pump or from any other cause, andimproved coupling means therefor in which all the locking andadjustments are made from the same side of the expansion joint, so thataccess to only one side of the exhaust connection is necessary forapplying and adjusting the joint. I

In present day turbine and condenser unit installations the turbine isnormally supported by a concrete foundation in which the turbine exhaustconnection and steam' inlet are coupled together by an expansion joint.In small unit installations having small connections it is practicableto allow sufficient space between the exhaust connection and foundationfor installation and adj ustment of the expansion oint from outside thevacuum space, and in such cases this arrangement is preferred, asentrance to the connection is not necessary and adjustment may be madeduring the operation of the turbine and condenser; Any increase in thesize of the foundation because of this space involves so littlefoundation expense as to be of little or no consequence and, in fact,thefoundation in such small units is usually of such size as to requireno addition to provide forthis space. In large unit installations withlarge connections, however, the concrete foundation'is so'large that foreconomy it must come up so close to the exhaust connection between theturbine and condenser that it is impractical to apply an expansion jointfrom the exterior of the vacuum space. To leave a space for this purposeabout the turbine exhaust connection 1 would result in a relativelylarge increase in the size of thefoundation and large waste of concrete.In large unit installations,

therefore, the expansion joint preferably 1924. Serial No. 724,536.

will be applied and adjusted from within the vacuum space.

For a full understanding of the invention a preferred embodiment thereofwill now be. described in detail in connection with the accompanyingdrawing forming a part of this-specification and the features formingthe invention then specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

=Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section, of a joint, the lockingand adjusting means accessible from outside the exhaust connection; i I

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of a detail;

Figure 4 is asection on line 44 of Figure 1, and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing aconstruction with theparts reversed for access inside the exhaust connection.

Referring tothe drawing, the expansion o nt, by way of illustration, isshown as oining the exhaust connection A of a steam turbine to the steaminlet Bof a condenser provided, respectively, with flanges A and B,which are external in the construction there is secured between theparts A and B a flexible member or ring 10 of any suitable flexible andresilient material, such as soft rubber, and of any desired form, butpreferably an annulus having at its opposite ends suitable heads orenlargements .11, 12 preferably cylindrical in shape. This annulus isshown as cylindrical for use with a round exhaust connection, but itwill be understood that the annulus may be oblong or of other form,depending on the form of exhaust connection used.

The flexible member 10 may be secured in any-suitable manner but apreferred support therefor comprises supporting rings 13, 14

of suitable shape and preferably divided into a plurality of sections,having exterior 14 extend within the opposite ends of the flexiblemember 1.0 l are provided with suitably siap'ed depressions 2 to receivethe respective heads 11-, 12 ot flexible member 10, which are securedtherein by a clampring 3 suitably recessed to receive the leads 11, 12and secured to the supporting rings 13, 1 by bolts 1. The clamping ring3 is preferably made in sections. The division ot the supporting andclampingrings into sections aids in adjustment of member 10 for sealingthe vacuum space. As shown, rings 13, 14 are divided into four sectionsand rings 3 .into eight sections, but this may be varied, dependingsomewhat upon the size or the exhaust connection.

In order to assure that the clamps 8 shall always assume the correctposition relative to the rings 18, 14 and provide a bearing for itsclamping action, 1 preferably provide a machined joint between the clamp3 and its ring 13 or 1 1, asthe case may be, comprising an otfsetportion or lug 5 seating within an annular recess 6 formed in the ring13 or 14, the lug 5 and recess 6 being suitably machined for exactfitting.

in connect ng the parts the su 'iporting rings 13, 14 will first beloosely mounted on the flanges A, B" by partially tightening the bolts 1and the flexible member 10 will then be placed in position with theheads 11, 12 outside the supporting rings 13, 14:, and within thedepressions 2, d clan'ipina; rings 3 locked thereagainst by tighteningthe bolts 4. The rings formed by the heads 11, 12, preferably will bestretched somewhat when in position on the ri 13, 1 1-, to aid in curinga ti 'ht joint. The rings 13, 16 will now be drawn tightly against theirrespective fiacges A B by the up bolts 1 The width of the flexible webof member 10 between the heads 11,12 is preferably such that it will beslightly stretched when this o-perationis completed, so that during theoperation of the turbine and its condenser the normal expansion of theparts will allow the flexible member 10 to assume its normal unstretehedcondition.

It willbe understood that various changes 'may be made in theconstruction and arrangement of parts while still retaining fined by theclaims.

1 x hat is claimec is: 1. In an expansion joint, the combination withtwo spaced hollow members, of supporting ring securedto each hollowmember,

shown and described the invention as de a resilient member overlappingthe supporting rings. a head, 4 each end of the resilient member, thesupporting-rings each being-recessed to receive one of the heads, arecessed clamping ring engaging each of the heads,

I boltsopercnle from one side of the joint for the supporting-rings, ahead at each end of the resilient member, the supporting ringseachfbeing recessed to receive one of the heads. a recessed clampingring engaging each of the heads and operable from one side of the joint,and bolts operable from the same side of the joint for drawing theclamping rings and supporting rings together to secure the ends of theresilient member.

In an expansion joint, the combination with a plurality of hollowmembers, of a resilient annular member overlapping the hollow members,ahead at each end of the resilient member, each of said hollow mem bersbeing recessed to receive one of the heads, a sectional recessedclamping ring engaging each of said heads, andboltsopep 7 able fromoutside thejoint torclamping the heads between the sectional clampingrings and the hollow members.

' 1. Inan expansion oint, the 'CQIHlOlHRUOTI with two spaced hollowmembers, of a sec tional'su'pporting ring secured to each hollow member,aresilient annular member overlapping the sectional supporting rings.

a head at each end of the resilient me'mber,'

the supporting rings each being 'recessedto receive one ofthe heads, asectional recessed clamping ring engagingeac'h ofsaid heads, and boltsoperable from outside the joint for clamping theheads between thesectional clamping rings and thesectional supporting rings. 7 y

5. In an expansion joint, the combination with two hollow members havingexternal flanges, 01"" asectional externally flanged supporting ringsecured to each hollow member by boltspas's'ing through the juxtaposedflanges, resilient annular mem 6L Inan expansion join-t, the combinationwith two spaced nines members 'li'a'ving flanges, of a flanged sectionalsupporting ring secured to each hollow member by bolts passing throughthe juxtaposed flanges, a resilient member overlapping the supportingrings, a sectional clamping ring cooperating with each supporting ringfor securing the ends of the resilient member, an annular lug on eachclam ing ring, and an annular recess for said ug in each supporting 10JOHN F. GRACE.

